Canon SX510 HS vs. Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: An Experienced Photographer’s Practical Take on Two Small Sensor Superzooms

When I first set out to compare the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, I was keenly aware that both cameras come from that curious category many enthusiasts call "small sensor superzoom compacts." These are units packed with zoom lenses that promise versatility but often come with compromises that only hands-on use can reveal. Having tested well over a thousand cameras, I’ve learned the hard truth: spec sheets only tell part of the story; real-world use and ergonomics often sway the verdict.

If you’re eyeing one of these two cameras - or just hunting a reliable, budget-friendly point-and-shoot with big zoom range - this comprehensive comparison digs into everything from sensor tech and autofocus to ergonomics and real-world image quality, rounding out with recommendations tailored to different types of photographers.

So, grab your metaphorical bags of popcorn (or just your camera gear), and let’s dive deep - starting from the outside-in.

Clutching the Camera in Your Hands: Size, Feel, and Controls

Before any shot is taken, the first tactile interaction sets the stage for a satisfying (or frustrating) experience. The Canon SX510 HS and the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 differ quite visibly in body shape and size, which influences portability and usability.

Canon SX510 HS is a compact but chunky box, measuring 104x70x80 mm and weighing in at 349 g. Its soft rounded edges and an intentional grip area on the right make it feel secure in one hand. The buttons are straightforward without clutter - a frequent boon for those who hate digging through buried controls.

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, on the other hand, is longer yet much slimmer: 133x71x19 mm, with a relative light weight of 283 g due to its lean design. It’s almost smartphone-like, blending a large touchscreen (more on that shortly) into its real estate. It’s light enough for a purse or a jacket pocket, but the thinness sacrifices grip comfort – it sometimes wants to slip from your hands during energetic use.

Taking a peek at control layout, the Canon leans on traditional camera-style tactile dials and buttons: mode dial, zoom toggle, dedicated exposure compensation. These are perfect for quick thumb maneuvering without relying on the LCD. The Samsung, however, opts to minimize physical buttons, relying heavily on its touchscreen interface. For those who love touchscreen responsiveness like a smartphone, this is a boon. For fast-paced shooting or with gloves, it’s a drawback.

Ergonomics Verdict:
If you prefer physical buttons - especially for sports, wildlife, or street shooting - the Canon SX510 HS feels like a club for your thumbs, solid and traditional. The Galaxy Camera 2 wins portability points and touchscreen ease but stumbles slightly on secure handling during fast action.

Under the Hood: Sensor Technology and Image Quality Factors

Now, the beating heart of any camera lies in its sensor and image processor. Both these shooters pack a relatively small 1/2.3" sensor - a common size in the compact superzoom world - but with crucial differences.

The Canon’s 12-megapixel CMOS sensor teamed with Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor is tried-and-true from its era, yielding acceptable image quality for web and prints up to 8x10 inches. The key limitation here is the resolution, which can impact cropping or large prints.

By contrast, Samsung pushes a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor with their 1.6 GHz Quad-Core Exynos processor onboard. BSI (Backside Illuminated) technology helps gather light more efficiently, improving low-light performance over typical CMOS of its predecessor. The higher megapixel count also aids in capturing detail in daylight.

From personal lab tests and real-world shooting, here’s what I can tell you:

• Dynamic Range: Both cameras stick to the modest expected range for their sensor size and class. Bright daylight shots preserve decent highlight and shadow detail but expect clipping in high-contrast scenes.

• High ISO Performance: The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 edges slightly ahead due to the BSI sensor, particularly around ISO 1600. Noise is less aggressive and image detail holds up better in dimly lit interiors and night scenes.

• Color and Depth: Canon’s rendering is more neutral and faithful with skin tones, a strength across most Canon models, while Samsung’s images are punchier but sometimes oversaturate.

So if you put a premium on image fidelity for everyday scenes, Samsung's higher resolution and better low-light edge are compelling, but Canon’s color science remains trusted territory.

Peeking That Screen: Display and Interface Usability

When composing or reviewing shots, screen quality and interface responsiveness make or break that moment.

Samsung makes a bold statement with a huge 4.8" HD Super Clear touchscreen that’s bright, sharp (1037k dots), and reacts quickly to touch. Navigating menus, pinch-zooming on images, or selecting focus points feels intuitive – a mobile-like experience. This camera feels like a small Android tablet with a lens. It even sports NFC and Bluetooth for easy wireless sharing.

The Canon SX510 HS counters with a smaller 3" TFT LCD, fixed in position, and lower resolution (461k dots). No touchscreen here - control is through physical buttons. This means navigating menus is slower but arguably more reliable when your fingers are wet or gloved during excursions.

Another note is the absence of a viewfinder on both cameras. This is expected in this category but reduces usability in very bright conditions unless you shade the screen.

Interface Verdict:
For users who crave touchscreen fluidity and wireless connectivity, Samsung’s Galaxy Camera 2 shines. If you dislike poking at screens under pressure or want more tactile feedback, Canon sticks to proven physical buttons that won't let you down.

Autofocus, Speed, and Burst Shooting Realities

Autofocus and shooting speed often determine whether you catch that fleeting moment or miss it entirely, especially in wildlife and sports photography.

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus (no phase-detection on either). This inherently results in slower AF than modern mirrorless systems but can be very precise for static subjects.

• Canon SX510 HS AF: Single AF mode is quite reliable in good light, aided by face detection. However, it has limited continuous AF support and its only burst mode is 4 frames per second (fps). In my field tests, it struggles with moving subjects and low light.

• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 AF: Samsung’s autofocus is also based on contrast detection but equipped with touch-to-focus on its screen, giving more direct control. However, continuous AF and tracking are absent. Burst shoots at a faster 5 fps but the buffer fills quickly.

With neither camera designed for real-time tracking, both are best suited for casual action shots rather than professional sports or fast wildlife bursts.

The All-Important Lens and Zoom Capabilities

Both cameras boast fixed superzoom lenses with impressive focal ranges:

• Canon SX510 HS: 24-720mm (35mm equivalent), 30x optical zoom, aperture f/3.4 to f/5.8
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 23-483mm (35mm equivalent), 21x optical zoom, aperture f/2.8 to f/5.9

Physically, Canon's longer reach lens is ideal for distant wildlife or sports shots where you want to fill the frame without cropping.

The Samsung’s brighter wide-angle aperture (f/2.8 vs f/3.4) means better low-light landscapes and interiors without pushing ISO too hard, plus wider 23mm coverage captures vast scenes or street environments well.

Unfortunately, neither offers optical zoom lenses you can swap - these are fixed lens systems by design.

Picture quality from the lens varies: Canon’s longer zoom shows modest softness toward full telephoto, but retains usable detail. Samsung’s lens is crisp in the wide to mid-range but softens noticeably at max zoom.

In summary, Canon is your pick for reach; Samsung edges out for wide aperture and daylight sharpness.

Flash, Stabilization, and Other Practical Features

Both cameras include built-in flashes with different ranges: Canon’s 5-meter reach barely beats Samsung’s 3.8 meters.

Image stabilization - crucial in long-zoom compacts - is optical on both, reducing handshake blur effectively, though not miracle-workers under very low light.

Samsung’s GPS built-in is a nice bonus if you’re keen on geotagging your shots automatically. Canon lacks GPS but offers WiFi for wireless image transfer, which is handy in today’s era.

Battery life is another factor: the Canon SX510 HS rated for roughly 250 shots per charge (NB-6LH battery), while Samsung’s Galaxy Camera 2 lasts around 400 shots thanks to a built-in larger battery - a notable advantage for extended outings.

Use-Case Breakdown: Strengths and Weaknesses Across Photography Styles

Now that we know the nuts and bolts, let’s break down how each camera performs for various photography genres.

Portrait Photography

• Skin tones: Canon’s color accuracy yields natural, pleasant skin tones without oversaturation.
• Bokeh: Both have small sensors and slow maximum apertures, so shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh are limited. Tunnel vision is necessary here.
• Eye detection: Canon has face detection; Samsung has touch AF, but no dedicated eye autofocus on either.

Winner: Slight nod to Canon for color fidelity but expect flat backgrounds overall.

Landscape Photography

• Dynamic range is limited on both.
• Resolution best on Samsung (16MP vs 12MP) for larger prints or crops.
• Weather sealing: neither offers it, so be cautious.
• Samsung’s wider aperture benefits low-light landscape shooting.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 edges out for detail and wide aperture.

Wildlife Photography

• Zoom range favors Canon's 720mm reach.
• AF systems are slow; neither great for fast-moving animals.
• Burst rate is low-ish, but Canon has slightly better tracking focus.

Winner: Canon SX510 HS is better for zoom and continuous AF in theory.

Sports Photography

Neither camera designed for high-end sports with 4-5 fps burst and slow AF; tough to recommend for serious action.

Street Photography

• Samsung’s discreet, slim body and touchscreen for quick AF selection make it appealing.
• Canon’s bulkier body may be more noticeable but is easier to shoot without looking.
• Both have no viewfinder.

Winner: Samsung for portability, Canon for ergonomics.

Macro Photography

• Samsung focus range minimum is 10 cm; Canon’s claimed "0 cm" macro is a marketing stretch (typically about 5 cm real).
• Stabilization helps but small sensor limits detail.

Winner: Slight advantage to Samsung thanks to better AF and touchscreen control.

Night/Astro Photography

• Small sensors are limited, but Samsung’s BSI sensor and higher battery life offer better long-exposure support.
• Both max ISO 3200 but with notable noise.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 for low-light handling.

Video Capabilities

• Both record Full HD 1080p video using H.264 codec at 24 or 30 fps.
• Canon is limited to 24 fps at 1080p; Samsung does 1080p at 30 fps.
• Samsung includes microphone input (unusual for compacts), allowing external mics for better audio.
• Neither offers advanced video features like 4K or electronic image stabilization for video.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a clear edge for video creators.

Travel Photography

• Size and battery life favor Samsung; less bulk to carry and longer shooting time.
• Zoom favors Canon if you want to shoot distant landmarks without a teleconverter.

Winner: Traveler’s preference: Samsung for ease, Canon for reach.

Professional Work

• Neither supports RAW files or offers professional-grade autofocus or ruggedness.
• Both offer JPEG only, limiting post-production flexibility.

Winner: Neither camera is suited for professional assignments; only casual content creation.

Connectivity, Storage, and Additional Features

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 takes connectivity seriously with built-in GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, and WiFi, making it a mobile photo hub that syncs easily to your phone or cloud. It uses microSD cards, widely available and inexpensive, but storage capacities might require mindful swapping for heavy shooters.

Canon SX510 HS sticks with WiFi and standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards but lacks Bluetooth or GPS.

Both cameras have HDMI cleaner output for viewing images or video on larger screens and USB 2.0 for data transfer - standard fare for the class.

Battery and storage alongside connectivity round out user convenience:

Pricing and Value: Who Gets the Best Bang for Your Buck?

At their original retail prices, Canon SX510 HS came in at around $249, with the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 at about $400 - a significant jump.

In today’s used market, both hover under $150-$200, making them affordable entry points for cheapskate superzoom fun.

The Canon's longer zoom range and reliable ergonomics deliver excellent value if length matters most, but the Samsung’s more modern sensor, bigger screen, and connectivity make it worth the price premium for those who want smartphone-like flexibility alongside decent image quality.

Side-By-Side Summary: Pros and Cons

Final Thoughts: Which Small Sensor Zoom-To-Go Camera Makes Sense For You?

If your priority is a budget-friendly travel companion or casual wildlife shooter, craving the longest zoom specialized for distant subjects, Canon SX510 HS remains a competent, robust contender. Its physical buttons and battery replaceability make it practical for field use. Just temper expectations on sensor quality and low light.

If you want a versatile shoot-and-share powerhouse with cutting-edge connectivity and video options, and are willing to pay for better screen real estate and a more modern sensor, especially as a social media content creator or street photographer, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 wins hands down. Its brighter lens and more responsive touchscreen interface play well with lifestyle shooting.

Neither camera replaces the needs of a demanding professional workflow, but in the realm of small sensor superzoom compacts, these two hold value for shooters who prioritize either reach or smart features.

Let Me Leave You With This…

Having put both cameras through their paces, I learned once again that every camera choice involves tradeoffs. Neither the Canon SX510 HS nor the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 will win awards for image quality by today’s mirrorless standards, but both offer accessible zoom ranges and feature mixes that fit specific niches well.

Your shooting style and priorities (longer zoom vs. smarter interface, tactile controls vs. portability) must guide you, not just raw specs.

If you want me to boil it down: For old-school zoom lovers - Canon. For digital savvy visual storytellers - Samsung.

Happy shooting!

Canon SX510 HS front Canon SX510 HS screen back Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 screen back